TAYLOR LAUTNER EXPANDS HIS CAREER BY LANDING SUPERHERO ROLE 'STRETCH ARMSTRONG'

Taylor Lautner is quite literally becoming a boy toy. The "Twilight" werewolf is already set to star in "Max Steel" — he'll play the titular extreme-sports-star-turned-superhero based on Mattel toy line — and now he's stretching his acting limits even more.

According to a press release, Universal Pictures has lined up Taylor for "Stretch Armstrong," a.k.a. another franchise based on a toy (this time it's a Hasbro-owned one).

The 3-D adventure, set for release in 2012, will be based around the very flexible action figure (his arms and legs can stretch "up to four times his size!"), which arrived in toy stores in the 1970s and re-launched in the 1990s.

"In the past two years, Taylor has emerged as a real star at the global box office. He brings the perfect balance of energy and athleticism to the role of an unlikely super hero with a fantastic super power," said Universal Pictures Co-Chairman Donna Langley in a statements. "We couldn't be more pleased that he has agreed to be our Stretch."

The team behind the Universal pic will include Hasbro President and CEO Brian Goldner, producer Brian Grazer ("8 Mile," "American Gangster") and writer Steve Oedekerk ("Bruce Almighty"). Hasbro is also bringing another classic of theirs to the big screen: "Battleship." Though today, the release noted that its premiere date was bumped from July 2011 to Memorial Day weekend 2012.

What do you think about Taylor Lautner as Stretch Armstrong? Perfect idea or (wait for it!) a real stretch?

SOURCE:
MTV http://bit.ly/9o7WWt